Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner's name resurfaces in trade rumors, but don't expect a deal. He's vital for the Cubs' future.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner was at the forefront of trade discussions last offseason. Many believed that the front office was going to trade Hoerner for a starting pitcher before the 2025 season.
While the Cubs never moved him, Hoerner is popping up in trade discussions again this winter.
Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic wrote that Hoerner’s name has come up in trade conversations in recent weeks. But Mooney and Sharma also wrote that “those mentions do not mean the Cubs are looking to deal their Gold Glove second baseman.”
It is a bit surprising to see Hoerner even in trade rumors following a career year in 2025. The 28-year-old hit .297 at the plate with seven home runs, 61 RBI, and 29 stolen bases across 156 games. His 6.2 WAR was also the best among all players on the team.
However, Cubs fans really shouldn’t think much of this report from Mooney and Sharma. The front office is likely not going to be trading away a fan favorite in Hoerner, and he was arguably Chicago’s most impactful player last season.
He finished second in National League batting average, fifth in National League Base Running Value, and won the Gold Glove Award at second base in the National League. It’s hard to find a player who does it all, and Hoerner is one of the few in baseball.
So, Hoerner is not going anywhere. He is more likely to get an extension from the team than be traded away this offseason. Teams are probably calling the Cubs just to check in on the second baseman, considering he is in the final year of his contract.
That’s resulting in the Cubs’ “listening” in a sense to see what teams have to offer. But listening to players is nothing new for Chicago’s front office. According to Mooney and Sharma, the front office does this for practically every player in the offseason.
“This front office operates without much sentiment and uses the offseason to gauge the value of virtually every player on the roster,” Mooney and Sharma wrote.
As a result, Cubs fans should take this news with a grain of salt. He is one of the team’s most important pieces heading into the 2026 season and should remain in the Windy City. Hoerner has emerged as one of the best all-around second basemen in all of baseball over the past few years.